Damper Mount

ABSTRACT

A system and method dampen sound. In one embodiment, the system is a damping system that has a first damper. The damping system also has a second damper. In addition, the damping system has a false ceiling bracket. Moreover, the damping system has an assembly bushing. The damping system also has a positioning ring.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of non-provisional of U.S.application Ser. No. 15/685,181 filed on Aug. 24, 2017, which is anon-provisional of U.S. application No. 62/379,140 filed on Aug. 24,2016, which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

This invention relates to the field of vibration damping and morespecifically to the field of damping mounts.

Background of the Invention

Marine vessels often use ample power for operation. Oftentimes, noise isa by-product of the various devices and equipment used onboard in orderto power, and maintain a steady-state of performance, for a vessel. Theoperation of equipment, such as, for example, equipment utilized in themarine environments, and additionally for building construction,including: motors, generators, air compressors, boilers, fans, pumps,propellers, shafts, struts, bearings, and the like, may cause disruptivenoises and vibrations within a surrounding environment.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is a regulatoryagency of the United States government that has administered apermissible exposure limit concerning an acceptable noise level thatpeople may experience. With the combination of different pieces ofequipment running in operation, noise and vibration levels may exceedthese permissible exposure limits. Different approaches may be taken toattempt to reduce these levels such as, isolating vibrating machinery,design and layout of the workplace for low noise emission, and addingmaterial to a source of noise. Onboard marine vessels, space is usuallylimited. Rather than affecting the sources of the noise and vibrations,a system or device may alter the subsequent acoustics produced fromoperation.

Therefore, there is a need for a damping system that may protect peoplefrom noise and vibrations.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF SOME OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

These and other needs in the art are addressed in one embodiment by adamping system. The damping system includes a first damper. The dampingsystem also includes a second damper. In addition, the damping systemincludes a false ceiling bracket. Moreover, the damping system includesan assembly bushing. The damping system further includes a positioningring.

These and other needs in the art are addressed in an embodiment by amethod for assembling a damping system. The method includes inserting anend of a first damper comprising an extension through an opening of afalse ceiling bracket. The method also includes inserting an end of asecond damper comprising an extension through an opposite side of theopening of the false ceiling bracket. Moreover, the method includesaligning the extensions. The method further includes inserting anassembly bushing through the first and second dampers. The methodadditionally includes placing a positioning ring around a portion of theassembly bushing. In addition, the method includes fastening thepositioning ring.

The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technicaladvantages of the present invention in order that the detaileddescription of the invention that follows may be better understood.Additional features and advantages of the invention will be describedhereinafter that form the subject of the claims of the invention. Itshould be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conceptionand the specific embodiments disclosed may be readily utilized as abasis for modifying or designing other embodiments for carrying out thesame purposes of the present invention. It should also be realized bythose skilled in the art that such equivalent embodiments do not departfrom the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appendedclaims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a detailed description of the preferred embodiments of theinvention, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings inwhich:

FIG. 1 illustrates a damper in accordance with embodiments of thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 2 illustrates a false ceiling bracket in accordance withembodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 illustrates an assembly bushing in accordance with embodiments ofthe present disclosure;

FIG. 4 illustrates a positioning ring in accordance with embodiments ofthe present disclosure; and

FIG. 5 illustrates a damping system in accordance with embodiments ofthe present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present disclosure may relate to the damping of vibrations andnoises attributed to equipment, such as, for example equipment used in amarine environment (e.g., vessels utilized in bodies of water) orbuilding construction. In a marine environment, boat propellers, shafts,struts, bearings, engines and pumps may be sources of disruptive noisesand vibrations. Additionally, vessels (e.g., boats, ships, submarines,hovercrafts) that move through a body of water (e.g., oceans, lakes,rivers) may encounter turbulence due to weather conditions (e.g., waves,wind, rain), which may cause noises and vibration within the vessels.

The acoustics, mechanical waves that travel through states of matter,that may be produced on and/or travel through marine vessels may not beacceptable for people to experience when compared to internationalhabitability standards. In an embodiment, a damping system 100, as shownin FIG. 5, may be installed in an environment affected by acoustic wavescharacterized by large amplitudes in order to alter the noise andvibration levels of the acoustic waves.

As shown in FIG. 5, damping system 100 may reduce vibrations and noisetransmitted through various structures (e.g., a superstructure). Asacoustic waves propagate through different mediums, there may be thermalconsumption of the energy of the acoustic waves caused by the density ofthe medium. Damping system 100 may protect people from unwanted noiseand vibrations by absorbing energy as acoustic waves travel throughdamping system 100. Damping system 100 may be utilized for a quickinstallation of ceilings that may be decoupled from vibration and/ornoise in all directions. Damping system 100 may assist in bringing noiseand/or vibration levels to acceptable levels specified by OSHA. Withoutlimitation, damping system 100 may be utilized for ceiling, floor, andwall fixtures; insulation systems; wooden deck fastening, mountingplates, flat bars, wiring systems, anti-skid, or combinations thereof.Damping system 100 may also be utilized for steel and/or aluminumshipbuilding. Additionally, damping system 100 may reduce structuralnoise and vibration transmission in ceilings and walls in theshipbuilding industry and the building construction industry.Furthermore, damping system 100 may prevent structural noises andvibrations from transferring to the interior of a vessel (e.g., boats,ships, submarines, hovercrafts).

In embodiments of the present disclosure as shown in FIG. 5, dampingsystem 100 may comprise a damper 10, a false ceiling bracket 20, anassembly bushing 30, and a positioning ring 40. The damping system 100may be attached to a ceiling, floor, wall, or any other suitablelocation.

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of damper 10. Damper 10 may serve asthe principal damping component within damping system 100. There may bea plurality of dampers 10 within damping system 100. Damper 10 may besolid and/or include an opening 12 that runs completely through damper10. Damper 10 may be of any suitable three dimensional shape, such as,for example, pyramidal, toroidal, spherical, cubical, conical,cylindrical or combinations thereof. In embodiments, damper 10 may beconical and have two flat ends 13, 14. Damper 10 may comprise of anysuitable material. Suitable material may comprise of rubber, metals,polymers, composites and/or combinations thereof. Without limitation, inembodiments, damper 10 may comprise of natural rubber, synthetic rubber,polytetrafluoroethylene, polyurethane, grey cast iron, shape memoryalloys and/or combinations thereof. The efficiency of acousticabsorption and/or attenuation may be based on the density of damper 10.In embodiments, damper 10 may have densities ranging from about 0.25kg/m² to about 10.0 kg/m². Without limitation, the density may rangefrom about 0.25 kg/m² to about 2.0 kg/m², from about 2.0 kg/m² to about5.0 kg/m², from about 5.0 kg/m² to about 7.0 kg/m², from about 7.0 kg/m²to about 10.0 kg/m², or from about 0.5 kg/m² to about 2.5 kg/m². Inembodiments, damper 10 may be reversible and may be identical on bothends, which may allow for easy installation and fewer parts.

Damper 10 may include an interlock design on one end, wherein theinterlock design may comprise an extension 11. There may be a singularextension 11 or a plurality of extensions 11. Extensions 11 may bedesigned and manufactured at a plurality of lengths and angles. A set ofdampers 10 may comprise of mirroring interlock designs on one end ofeach individual piece. A set of dampers 10 (e.g., first damper 51 andsecond damper 52 shown in FIG. 5) may be disposed upon each other byaligning each individual piece's extensions 11. Disposing one damper 10upon another may “sandwich” or squeeze false ceiling bracket 20 betweenthem.

FIG.2 illustrates an embodiment of false ceiling bracket 20. Falseceiling bracket 20 may be any intermediary component designed forstructurally fixing one part to another (e.g. structural brackets andhangers). False ceiling bracket 20 may serve to affix damping system 100to a floor, wall, ceiling, and/or any other suitable location. Falseceiling bracket 20 may be affixed through suitable fasteners. Withoutlimitation, suitable fasteners may be nuts and bolts, washers, screws,socket set screws, pins, sockets, rods and studs, hinges and/or anycombination thereof. False ceiling bracket 20 may be made of anysuitable material. Suitable material may include metals, nonmetals,polymers, ceramics, composites and/or combinations thereof. Falseceiling bracket 20 may comprise a first leg 21, a second leg 22, a firstvertical support 23, a second vertical support 24, a top 25, and a firstopening 26.

In embodiments, first leg 21 may be disposed about perpendicularly tofirst vertical support 23. Second leg 22 may be disposed aboutperpendicularly to second vertical support 24. First leg 21 and secondleg 22 may be used interchangeably, as may first vertical support 23 andsecond vertical support 24. In embodiments, top 25 is disposed aboutperpendicular to first vertical support 23 and second vertical support24. First vertical support 23 and second vertical support 24 may bedisposed on opposing sides of top 25. In embodiments, first verticalsupport 23 is disposed between top 25 and second leg 22, and secondvertical support 24 is disposed between top 25 and second leg 22. Top 25may be disposed atop first vertical support 23 and second verticalsupport 24. False ceiling bracket 20 may have any suitable height. Inembodiments, false ceiling bracket 20 may have a height of about tenmillimeters to about fifty millimeters from the horizontal plane offirst leg 21 and second leg 22. Without limitation, the height of falseceiling bracket 20 may range from about ten millimeter to about twentymillimeters, from about twenty-five millimeters to about fiftymillimeters, from about twenty millimeters to about thirty millimeters,from about thirty millimeters to about forty millimeters, and from aboutforty millimeters to about fifty millimeters. Without limitation, eachof the aforementioned components of false ceiling bracket 20 may bemanufactured and assembled using a brake press and/or welding. Top 25may comprise a first opening 26. First opening 26 may be disposed atabout the center of top 25. First opening 26 may be an absence ofmaterial. There may be a plurality of first openings 26 disposedthroughout false ceiling bracket 20. First opening 26 may be anysuitable shape. Without limitation, a suitable shape may be circular,elliptical, triangular, rectangular, square, hexagonal and/or anycombination thereof. In embodiments, first opening 26 is circular. Firstopening 26 may have a diameter large enough to allow extensions 11 ofdamper 10 to pass through top 25.

To hold a set of dampers 10 disposed upon each other on opposite and/orthe same sides of false ceiling bracket 20, assembly bushing 30 may beutilized, as illustrated in FIG. 3. In embodiments, dampers 10 may havean opening 15 that runs through them. Assembly bushing 30 may beinserted into the combined length of the openings of dampers 10 in orderto provide a bearing surface. Without limitation, assembly bushing 30may be a solid sleeve bushing, a flanged bushing, a split bushing, aclenched bushing and/or combinations thereof. Assembly bushing 30 may bemade of any suitable material. Suitable material may include metals,nonmetals, polymers, ceramics, composites and/or combinations thereof.Assembly bushing 30 may comprise a lip 31 and a second opening 32. Inembodiments, assembly bushing 30 is a flanged bushing, wherein lip 31may serve to support a set of dampers 10. Lip 31 may be a flared, outeredge of an end of assembly bushing 30. Second opening 32 may be disposednear the end of assembly bushing 30 that is opposite from lip 31. Secondopening 32 may be an absence of material. Second opening 32 may be anysuitable size and shape. Without limitation, a suitable shape may becircular, elliptical, triangular, rectangular, square, hexagonal and/orany combination thereof. To hold assembly bushing 30 in place,positioning ring 40 may be used.

FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of positioning ring 40. Positioningring 40 may be used to secure assembly bushing 30 to a set of dampers 10by adjusting its diameter through the use of fasteners. Positioning ring40 may be made of any suitable material. Suitable material may includemetals, nonmetals, polymers, ceramics, composites and/or combinationsthereof. Positioning ring 40 may be any suitable shape. Withoutlimitation, a suitable shape may be circular, elliptical, triangular,rectangular, square, hexagonal and/or any combination thereof.Positioning ring 40 may comprise a first hole 41 and a second hole 42.First hole 41 may be an absence of material that runs through the lengthof positioning ring 40. First hole 41 may be disposed in the center ofpositioning ring 40. Consequently, there may be an inner and outerdiameter for positioning ring 40. In embodiments, first hole 41 may beof sufficient diameter to allow assembly bushing 30 to be disposedtherein. In an embodiment, first hole 41 may have a diameter betweenabout 0.1% and 2.0% greater than the outer diameter of assembly bushing30, alternatively a diameter between about 0.1% and about 1.0% greaterthan the outer diameter of assembly bushing 30, and alternatively adiameter between about 1.0% and about 2.0% greater than the outerdiameter of assembly bushing 30, further alternatively a diameterbetween about 1.0% and about 1.5% greater than the outer diameter ofassembly bushing 30, and alternative about the same diameter as theouter diameter of assembly bushing 30. In embodiments, positioning ring40 may be disposed around at least a portion of assembly bushing 30 byinserting assembly bushing 30 through first hole 41. Consequently, suchdisposition may limit the movement of positioning ring 40 along twoseparate axes. Second hole 42 may be an absence of material that extendsradially from the inner diameter of positioning ring 40 to the outerdiameter of positioning ring 40. There may be a plurality of secondholes 42. Second hole 42 may be a location for a suitable fastener.Without limitation, a suitable fastener may be nuts and bolts, washers,screws, pins, sockets, rods and studs, hinges and/or any combinationthereof. The tightening or loosening of a suitable fastener may increaseor decrease the diameter of positioning ring 40. In embodiments, afastener may be inserted into second hole 42 in order to securepositioning ring 40 from translating along the length of assemblybushing 30.

FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment of damping system 100. Damping system100 may comprise a first damper 51 and a second damper 52. First damper51 may be disposed on the top of top 25 of false ceiling bracket 20. Theextensions 11 (not shown) on the bottom of first damper 51 may beinserted through the top of first opening 26. Second damper 52 may bedisposed underneath top 25 and first damper 51. In an embodiment,extensions 11 (not shown) of second damper 52 may substantially mirrorthose of first damper 51. In other embodiments, such extensions 11 aredifferent. The end of second damper 52 with extensions 11 (not shown)may also pass through first opening 26 from underneath, wherein bothsets of extensions 11 (not shown) may align. Assembly bushing 30 may beinserted into first damper 51 and second damper 52 through the openings15. The end of assembly bushing 30 with second opening 32 may beinserted first through second damper 52 disposed underneath top 25. Oncefully inserted, lip 31 may lay flush with a portion of second damper 52.Positioning ring 40 may be disposed around assembly bushing 30 near theend with second opening 32. This may allow positioning ring 40 to onlyrotate along a singular axis. Second opening 32 and second hole 42 maybe aligned in order for a fastener 53 to be inserted to securepositioning ring 40 in place. Once a fastener 53 is inserted,positioning ring 40 may be disposed about flush with an end of firstdamper 51. In embodiments, there may be a plurality of holes located onfirst leg 21 and second leg 22 where fasteners may be inserted. Inembodiments, the fasteners may secure damping system 100 to the floor,wall, ceiling, and/or any other suitable location.

In other embodiments, the end of assembly bushing 30 with second opening32 may be inserted into the opening of first damper 51 and second damper52 through the top of first damper 51, which is disposed on top of top25 of false ceiling bushing 20. The previous steps for assembly may bethe same except that positioning ring 40 may lay flush with an end ofsecond damper 52, and lip 31 may lay flush with a portion of firstdamper 51 that is disposed on top of top 25.

In other embodiments, false ceiling bracket 20 may have a plurality ofbending members, without limitation. First openings 26 may be disposedupon these bending members, wherein a plurality of sets of dampers 10may be disposed upon.

In embodiments, there may be a plurality of damping systems 100installed in an environment (i.e. different rooms within a marinevessel). Each individual damping system 100 may be coupled to a wall,floor, ceiling, each other and/or combinations thereof to reduce thenoise and vibrations in the given surroundings.

In an embodiment, damping system 100 is assembled individually or in agroup. In embodiments, damping system 100 is assembled in a group andfurther includes externally connecting each damping system together.

The preceding description provides various examples of the systems andmethods of use disclosed herein which may contain different method stepsand alternative combinations of components. It should be understoodthat, although individual examples may be discussed herein, the presentdisclosure covers all combinations of the disclosed examples, including,without limitation, the different component combinations, method stepcombinations, and properties of the system. It should be understood thatthe compositions and methods are described in terms of “comprising,”“containing,” or “including” various components or steps, thecompositions and methods can also “consist essentially of” or “consistof” the various components and steps. Moreover, the indefinite articles“a” or “an,” as used in the claims, are defined herein to mean one ormore than one of the element that it introduces.

For the sake of brevity, only certain ranges are explicitly disclosedherein. However, ranges from any lower limit may be combined with anyupper limit to recite a range not explicitly recited, as well as, rangesfrom any lower limit may be combined with any other lower limit torecite a range not explicitly recited, in the same way, ranges from anyupper limit may be combined with any other upper limit to recite a rangenot explicitly recited. Additionally, whenever a numerical range with alower limit and an upper limit is disclosed, any number and any includedrange falling within the range are specifically disclosed. Inparticular, every range of values (of the form, “from about a to aboutb,” or, equivalently, “from approximately a to b,” or, equivalently,“from approximately a-b”) disclosed herein is to be understood to setforth every number and range encompassed within the broader range ofvalues even if not explicitly recited. Thus, every point or individualvalue may serve as its own lower or upper limit combined with any otherpoint or individual value or any other lower or upper limit, to recite arange not explicitly recited.

Therefore, the present examples are well adapted to attain the ends andadvantages mentioned as well as those that are inherent therein. Theparticular examples disclosed above are illustrative only, and may bemodified and practiced in different but equivalent manners apparent tothose skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings herein.Although individual examples are discussed, the disclosure covers allcombinations of all of the examples. Furthermore, no limitations areintended to the details of construction or design herein shown, otherthan as described in the claims below. Also, the terms in the claimshave their plain, ordinary meaning unless otherwise explicitly andclearly defined by the patentee. It is therefore evident that theparticular illustrative examples disclosed above may be altered ormodified and all such variations are considered within the scope andspirit of those examples. If there is any conflict in the usages of aword or term in this specification and one or more patent(s) or otherdocuments that may be incorporated herein by reference, the definitionsthat are consistent with this specification should be adopted.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for assembling a damping system,comprising: inserting an end of a first damper comprising an extensionthrough an opening of a false ceiling bracket; inserting an end of asecond damper comprising an extension through an opposite side of theopening of the false ceiling bracket; aligning the extensions; insertingan assembly bushing through the first and second dampers; placing apositioning ring around a portion of the assembly bushing; and fasteningthe positioning ring.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first damperand the second damper comprise rubber.
 3. The method of claim 1, whereinthe first damper and/or the second damper is in a conical shape.
 4. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the first damper and/or the second damperincludes an interlock design on one end.
 5. The method of claim 4,wherein the interlock design comprises an extension.
 6. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the assembly bushing comprises a lip.
 7. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the assembly bushing comprises a solid sleeve bushing,a flanged bushing, a split bushing, or a clenched bushing.
 8. The methodof claim 7, wherein the assembly bushing may be secured by a positioningring through the adjustment of its diameter by use of fasteners.
 9. Themethod of claim 8, wherein fastening the positioning ring comprises afastening mechanism comprising a socket set screw, a washer, a nut and abolt, or any combination thereof.
 10. The method of claim 1, whereinfastening the positioning ring further comprises adjusting a diameter ofthe positioning ring.
 11. The method of claim 1, wherein the positioningring comprises a first hole and a second hole.
 12. The method of claim11, wherein the first hole is disposed in about a center of thepositioning ring.
 13. The method of claim 11, wherein the first hole onthe positioning ring has a diameter between about 0.1% and 2.0% greaterthan an outside diameter of the assembly bushing.
 14. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the false ceiling bracket comprises a top, a firstvertical support and a second vertical support.
 15. The method of claim14, wherein the top is disposed about perpendicular to the firstvertical support and the second vertical support.
 16. The method ofclaim 15, wherein the first vertical support and the second verticalsupport may be disposed on opposing sides of the top.
 17. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the false ceiling bracket affixes the damping system toa wall.
 18. The method of claim 1, wherein the damping system isassembled individually or in a group.
 19. The method of claim 18,wherein the damping system assembled in a group further comprises ofexternally connecting each damping system together.
 20. The dampingmethod of claim 1, wherein the positioning ring only rotates along asingular axis.